Stranger Things Season Three Review

Stranger Things is back in awesome form, and continues to enrich Netflix.

The marvelous Netflix show is back, and I’m pleased to say that Season three is delightful to watch. In this Stranger Things Season Three Review, I will discuss the good, the bad and the upside down.

Just a heads up, there will be spoilers!

The Good

As sweet as ice-cream.

Stranger Things is back in awesome form, and continues to enrich Netflix. I enjoyed seeing Steve bantering with Dustin and Erica, as well as newcomer Robin. The scene where Robin and Steve are getting tortured deserves a shout-out: both actors bring their A-game.

I also enjoyed Max and El’s friendship, seeing Nancy find her strength among a toxic environment and the new characters Alexei and Suzie. Yes, this season of Stranger Things offers nostalgia: yet it seems fresh here.

Special props have to be given to the many tense and horrifying scenes. The ending battle in Starcourt is riddled with horror-dread. I can see Stephen King being very proud!

Yet what makes the horror in Stranger Things work is the neverending mystery. Stranger Things should not be viewed as a horror, or a comedy, or even science fiction. Whilst sharing traits of those genres, I believe Stranger Things is a pure mystery. Think about it: every episode centers around groups of characters trying to ‘solve’ a problem. This drives alot of their actions and characterisation. That’s what I love about Stranger Things: it’s an awesome mystery, with nostalgic sci-fi horror elements.

To sum up the positives of Stranger Things Season Three, I will say, that there are many. It’s packed with emotional moments that can be heartfelt yet funny. The characters are awesome. Some of my favourite scenes were between Eleven and Billy- I am floored by the amount of nuance that went into them.

The Bad

Overall, this Stranger Things Season Three review will be positive. That being said, there are negatives that need to be discussed. For one, I thought certain characters were pushed to the background. The most obvious one being Jonathan Byers. The new mayor character is very tropey and fulfills the ‘evil mayor’ stereotype. I also thought Joyce could have gotten more juicy material to work with.

However, what disappointed me was the lack of development into Max and Billy’s relationship. I felt the show glazed over their perspectives (as Billy is possessed) and was frustrated that the two never got any closure. That being said, I am glad that Billy redeemed himself, even if it was at the very end.

I’m unsure about the Soviet elements, but we’ll see what happens next season. I understand that Hopper is a well-loved character, yet I hope that the show sticks to their guns with their decision to kill him off. This is because I dislike cheap deaths, and Hopper’s death could take El into an interesting direction. My heart aches for Joyce, however!

The Upside Down

What also deserves credit is the weird and trippy visuals. When El puts on her mask, you know that you are about to enter a world where things have gone a bit mad. I also like that a Stranger Things scene could start off playful and silly, yet end up sinister. That’s good writing, and I hope it is carried through to season four.

On the subject of the truly, truly strange…. how unsettling were those rats? Plus, those possessed people are creepy!

In conclusion, this season delights. It’s action-packed, funny, heartfelt and tense. It gives us exactly what we want, yet we are still hungry for more.

Score: 78/100

What are your thoughts on the season? What did you think of my Stranger Things Season Three review? Any changes you would have made? Favourite characters? Comment below, I love to read people’s thoughts!